In Italy, there are two main types of student financing: merit-based scholarships, such as the “Invest Your Talent in Italy” (IYT) and MAECI scholarships, as well as internal university scholarships. Need-based scholarships: DSU.

Here, I will also try to explain what a Foundation year is and special projects such as Marco Polo and Turandot.

Studying in Italy is an exciting adventure that goes far beyond classroom lessons: it is an experience of life, culture, and personal growth. During my journey, I discovered that, with the right guidance, even financing your studies can become an achievable goal; it is not just a matter of luck or “being very good,” but of knowing the right opportunities and knowing how to navigate calls for applications and requirements.

In this post, I will outline the primary types of funding available in Italy: from merit-based scholarships, such as Invest Your Talent in Italy and those promoted by MAECI, to internal university grants and need-based support, including DSU.

We will also discuss useful concepts, such as the Foundation Year and special projects like Marco Polo and Turandot, to help you understand how to make your dream of studying here a reality.

DSU SCHOLARSHIP

​What is DSU? It is a government scholarship given to foreign students with low income, according to Italian law. To apply for a scholarship, please contact ERDIS – Ente Regionale Diritto Allo Studio.

Scholarships in Italy may include:

• Full tuition fees (excluding regional enrollment fees)
• Accommodation (dormitory or money, if you have a legally registered rental contract); in recent years, the option of the rent subsidy has been removed, but this depends on the university.
• 1 or 2 meals at the university cafeteria
• Cash up to €6000 per year, paid into your current account twice a year (usually in December and June)
• A discount on public transport passes.

The possibility of receiving a scholarship depends (in the first year) on regional funds and your financial situation. In subsequent years, your grade point average and the number of credits you have earned will be taken into account. To receive a scholarship, you need to collect the following documents* (*documents of all those registered with you according to the certificate from the housing and utilities department).

What documents are required?

• ISEEU/ISPEU
• Family status certificate
• Certificate of employment or pension
• Salary certificate or absence thereof
• Bank statements confirming the existence or absence of accounts (as of December 31)
• Certificates confirming the existence of real estate and its value
• Copies of passports
• Photocopy of residence permit
• Housing contract
• Tax code – codice fiscale
• IBAN – where your scholarship will be paid
• Photo – fototessera

Everything must be translated and, in some cases, apostilled! The year of the documents to be retrieved that must be taken into account (last year or the year before last) depends on the university. I repeat, read the BANDO.

Who is eligible?

• Bachelor’s
• Master’s
• Doctoral Students
• Those who enrolled in the first year

From the second year onwards, both income and academic performance are taken into consideration. You must satisfy the requirement of earning 25-35 credits per year. This depends on the university.

The BANDO DSU (Right to University Education) calls for applications, classifying students into 3 main categories based on their place of residence and distance from the course location. This distinction is fundamental because it determines the amount of the scholarship and the additional services (such as accommodation or meals) to which you are entitled.

The three types are:

As regards the classification of students according to their place of residence, there are 2 types:

Regular student:

The property and income of the entire family are taken into account (all those registered with you according to the certificate from the housing and utilities department).

An independent student is called independent if:

• registered separately from the family
• registered for 2 years in your own or rented apartment
• officially earn at least €9,000/year (for the last two years)
• Do not work for family members

Foreign students are considered non-local students regardless of their place of residence! Please read the BANDO from the university you have chosen!

MAECI SCHOLARSHIP

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) offers scholarships to foreign students and Italian students residing abroad (IRE) for each academic year, to promote cooperation in the cultural, scientific, and technological fields, projecting Italy’s economic system around the world, and spreading knowledge of the Italian language and culture.

The scholarship only covers attendance at courses in Italy. The call for applications and the list of beneficiary countries/other territories are available on the following page. Candidates may only apply through the “Study in Italy” portal.

MAECI scholarships are an excellent opportunity for foreign students who want to study in Italy, offering concrete financial and academic support.

Here are 5 key strengths that make them advantageous for university or research programs:

• Generous Monthly Allowance – contribute €900 per month, paid quarterly into an Italian bank account, which covers food and accommodation expenses after enrollment and verification of academic progress.
• Exemption from University Fees – exempts recipients from paying university fees, except for a regional tax of €140 and an official stamp of €16 (marca da bollo), drastically reducing the cost of enrolling in recognized courses.
• Flexible Duration for In-Depth Studies – cover periods of 6 or 9 months (from January to October), ideal for master’s degrees, doctorates, research, or Italian language and culture courses, with the possibility of renewal.
• Access to Prestigious Institutions – allows you to attend state or legally recognized universities throughout Italy, promoting cultural, scientific, and technological cooperation with a focus on the Italian language.
• Accessible and inclusive requirements – open to students under 28 from eligible countries, with a B2 level in Italian or English, requiring only an appropriate academic qualification for a meritocratic opportunity.

Scholarships offered by universities:

The offers listed in this section of the website comes from universities and are not managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Scholarships offered by Italian universities provide targeted support to international students, often covering living and academic expenses to promote integration.

Here are 5 key benefits for those coming from abroad:

• Full Coverage of Costs
• Merit-Based Customization
• Integration with University Services
• Internal Mobility Opportunities
• Renewal and Future Prospects

Full Coverage of Costs – they cover university tuition, food, accommodation, and travel expenses, amounting to €10,000-15,000 per year, depending on the university and merit.

Merit-Based Customization – based on academic excellence, entrance exams, or financial need, with simplified procedures for non-EU students through university portals, ensuring fairness and transparency.

The Call and the list of Eligible Countries and Other Territories can be found at the following link:https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/ListaBandi.

Integration with University Services – includes language tutoring, cultural orientation, and access to free cafeterias/student housing, facilitating adaptation in Italy for three-year or master’s degree programs.

Internal Mobility Opportunities – allow study at multiple university locations (e.g., integrated Erasmus+), with a focus on regions such as Tuscany or Veneto, promoting an authentic Italian experience and networking.

Candidates can apply exclusively through the “Study in Italy” platform.

Renewal and Future Prospects – renewable for the entire duration of the course with good performance, often convertible into internships or post-graduate work, strengthening CVs for international careers.

INVEST YOUR TALENT IN ITALY

A scholarship that few people know about, but shouldn’t. It can cover not only your tuition fees, but also provide you with €8,000 per year for personal expenses. It can also open doors to your career.

Why is it rarely talked about? This scholarship has quite specific conditions and is not suitable for everyone. But that is precisely why, if you meet the criteria, it is definitely worth considering.

What is this program?

Invest Your Talent in Italy is a government scholarship for international students who are applying for a master’s degree in Italy in English and are willing to do an internship at an Italian company.

What does it offer?

• Full coverage of tuition fees
• €8,000 per year (paid in three installments)
• Free Italian language courses
• Mandatory three-month internship at one of the partner companies
• This is not only financial assistance, but also an excellent start to a career in an international environment.

What fields can you apply for?

• Architecture and design
• Engineering and applied technologies
• Economics, management, and finance

Programs must be English-language and included in the official IYT list. Applications for this year will open in February. Official website IS investyourtalentapplication.esteri.it

Who is this scholarship for?

Only citizens of the following countries can apply: Ethiopia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, India, Mexico, China, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan.

Basic requirements:

• age up to 26
• bachelor’s degree
• admission to a master’s program in Italy
• English language proficiency at least B2 level, certificate required
• willingness to participate in an internship
• motivational video (up to 1 minute)

2-year extension Visa:

The scholarship is for two years. However, to extend it for a second year, you must complete your credits (academic points).

Universities participating in the Programme:

• IUAV
• IULM – INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND MEDIA
• POLITECNICO DI MILANO
• POLITECNICO DI TORINO
• UNIVERSITY OF TUSCIA
• UNIVERSITY OF BRESCIA
• UNIVERSITY OF CAMERINO
• UNIVERSITY OF CASSINO AND SOUTHERN LAZIO
• UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE
• OTHERS…

THE CALL AND THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES AND OTHER TERRITORIES CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTPS://STUDYINITALY.ESTERI.IT/LISTABANDI. CANDIDATES CAN APPLY EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE “STUDY IN ITALY” PLATFORM.

FOUNDATION YEAR

Have you finished school and dream of attending university in Italy, but only have 11 years of education? Spoiler alert: as things stand, you cannot directly enroll in a three-year (triennale) degree program. But don’t panic! There is a smart solution: the Foundation Year.

Foundation Year in Italy:

Are you wondering what is best: the Foundation or the first year of university in your country?

Completing the first year of university in your home country may satisfy the 12-year requirement. However, the Foundation offers a concrete advantage. After the program, many students are assessed as EU, so they compete with European students. This means you will have:

• more places available
• less selection
• easier access to the three-year degree
• You don’t need to reapply for a visa; you just need to renew your residence permit for study purposes.

Requirements for applying:

• translated high school diploma
• school certificates (if you have not yet finished school)
• language certification (if required)
• motivation letter
• CV
• Sometimes a reference letter or admission test is required (this depends on the university)

Why is the Foundation Year worthwhile?

• You gradually settle into life in Italy
• You understand how the university works
• You improve your language and study methods
• You build your first relationships and points of reference

SPECIAL PROJECTS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation awards scholarships to foreign students engaged in study activities under the so-called “Special Projects”.

Scholarships for special projects are targeted opportunities offered by institutions such as:

• the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for projects such as ITALYOU)
• universities
• Fondazione Agnelli (for international programs)
• and international organizations (UNESCO, Fulbright)

For students and researchers, often for specific fields (e.g., journalism, biomedical research, international protection) and with nationality or merit requirements, often managed through calls for applications with specific deadlines. You can consult the opportunities on the website.

Would like to point out that MAECI scholarships are divided into “Special Projects” and ordinary scholarships, with substantial differences in rules, applications, and targets.

The Marco Polo and Turandot projects:

The two government programmes aim to strengthen scientific cooperation between Italy and Asia, creating a cultural and academic bridge between the two countries.

The Marco Polo and Turandot projects are bilateral initiatives between Italy and China to facilitate access for Chinese students to Italian universities, with a focus on preparatory language courses and enrollment.

Marco Polo Procedure

Chinese students pre-enroll at the Universitaly from June for the following academic year, attend an intensive Italian language course in Italy, and obtain reserved quotas for bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Turandot Procedure

Similar to Marco Polo, but dedicated to AFAM programs (Academies of Fine Arts, Conservatories), with identical pre-registration and preliminary language courses to access art and music courses.

They guarantee facilitated D visas, partial exemption from language tests, and priority access to university places, integrating with MAECI scholarships to reduce costs and bureaucratic barriers.

In conclusion, studying in Italy with a scholarship is a real and achievable opportunity, not something reserved for a lucky few. Italy offers a wide range of funding options, from government and regional scholarships that cover tuition fees, accommodation, and meals, to university-specific grants and prestigious programs designed for international students.

I’ve already written about how much does it costs to study in Italy here. If you’d like to learn more, here’s my post:

While the application process can be competitive and deadlines can be strict, good planning and the right information can make a huge difference. Starting early, understanding the requirements, and applying strategically to the scholarships that best match your profile can significantly increase your chances of success.

If this guide helped you better understand how scholarships in Italy work, keep researching, stay organized, and don’t give up. With the right preparation, studying in Italy can become more than just a dream it can be the start of an unforgettable academic and personal journey.